Pine Brook, a New York-based investment firm, announced it has completed a $45 million growth equity investment in Community Trust Financial Corporation, parent company of Community Trust Bank.

Headquartered in Ruston, LA, Community Trust has 30 banking centers throughout Northern Louisiana, the Dallas/Fort Worth area, and North-Central Mississippi, and is led by.

“After a period of the bank’s rapid growth, Pine Brook’s expertise in the financial services sector will be a great asset in helping us continue to build our business,” Drake Mills, chairman, president and CEO, said. “Pine Brook has a deep understanding of community banking and lending, which will be essential in our continued development.”

“Pine Brook is excited to join with Community Trust and its team of seasoned executives, who share an exceptional reputation for achieving strong growth and profitability at a time when increasing commercial and industrial lending is critical for the U.S. economy,” said Oliver Goldstein, a managing director on Pine Brook’s financial services investment team.

Pine Brook is a private equity firm that makes equity investments in new and growing energy and financial services businesses.